SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal assistance for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

May 15, 2020

SMARTPHONE STALKERWARE SCAM

Cyberstalkers have a new weapon in their efforts to virtually follow their victims — stalkerware.

Online stalking has been defined as the use of the Internet for monitoring and, often, harassing an individual. It involves all kinds of sinister motives, including scamming victims, stealing their identity, blackmailing, bullying, and intimidation.

Using stalkerware, scammers can see all the things you see on your smartphone, hear all the things you hear, pinpoint your physical location, and even remotely control your camera and microphone,” explains Malwarebytes’ Wendy Zamora.

Your calls can be intercepted, eavesdropped on, and recorded — all without your knowledge as the smartphone owner. Information can then be reported back to the scammer.

Stalkerware is available openly. It may be deceptively promoted as software for parental monitoring of teens. Or, for its ability to keep an eye on activities of spouses and other partners.

Getting Around Built-in Security:

Stalkerware programs have been able to avoid built-in security on some smartphones during installation. Scammers  can sometimes skirt the law by appearing to have a legitimate purpose.

State and federal authorities rely on laws that were not originally written to defend against cyberstalking. That makes it difficult to legally tackle the stalkerware criminals.

What to Do:

You could install protective security software on your smartphone. Many smartphone owners have anti-malware software on their PCs but not on their smartphones.

It is not always easy to know if stalkerware apps have been installed on your smartphone. Presence of snooping stalkerware could be signaled by a surge in your phone’s data usage, or if your battery drains quicker than usual.

Guidance in avoiding cyberstalkers is offered at https://scambusters.org/cyberstalking.html.

Attribution: scambusters.org.

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal services for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

May 13, 2020

INVESTMENT SCAMS

Prudent investment is a common means of increasing wealth. But there is always risk in investments. A con artist will tell you otherwise. You should know there is a risk before you invest.

Beware of promises that you will make big profits fast. No one can accurately predict how an investment will produce profit. Often the investments that promise the greatest pay-off have the most risk.

Investment guidance from a licensed professional should be obtained to minimize risk.
Investment considerations:

*Get the details in writing. Legitimate companies will be happy to give you all the information you need.

*Do not agree quickly. Pressure by anyone to act immediately is a sign of fraud.

*Understand your investments. Do your educational homework before you invest. Know differences between stocks and bonds, margin accounts, cash accounts, options, futures, mutual funds and certificates of deposit.

*Do not act on testimonials or suggestions from strangers. Someone who appears to want to share a friendly tip about a great investment opportunity may be a con artist trying to lure you into an investment scam.

*Be especially wary of investments in commodities. Crooks often promise that the value of investments in coins, precious metals, artwork, oil leases, gemstones, and other commodities will rise. The truth is the value of these types of investments can go up or down significantly.

*Steer clear of “offshore investments.” These are often promoted to avoid taxes. You will likely still be liable for taxes, and the investments themselves are usually very risky.

*Be cautious about emails for investments. Many unsolicited emails are fraudulent.

*Take the time to check out investment offers. A good place to start is with your state securities regulator. Other resources for information to help you make wise investment decisions include: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 800- 732-0330; the North American Securities Administrators Association, 202-737-0900; and the National Futures Association (for investments in commodities), 800-621-3570.

Attribution: fraud.org

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provided free legal services for low income seniors in San Mateo Count, California.

May 11, 2020

CORONAVIRUS SCAMS

Coronavirus scams are spreading nearly as fast as the virus itself.

Fraudsters are using the full suite of scam tools — phishing emails and texts, robocalls, impostor schemes and more to steal money with their dirty work.

Here are some types of coronavirus scams:

*Bogus claims to cure or prevent COVID-19

*Bogus approved vaccines. No vaccines or drugs have been approved specifically to treat or prevent COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

*Bogus claims that teas, essential oils, cannabinol, colloidal silver and intravenous vitamin-C therapies are among defenses against the pandemic.

*Other scammers claim to be selling or offering in-demand supplies such as surgical masks, test kits and household cleaners, often in robocalls, texts or social media ads.

With many Americans set to receive stimulus checks under the federal CARES Act, the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is warning of a wave of schemes promising to speed up your payment. Watch out for calls or emails, purportedly from government agencies, that use the term “stimulus” (the official term is “economic-impact payment”) and asking you to sign over a check or provide personal information like your Social Security number or bank account number.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued warnings to many companies suspected of abetting coronavirus robocalls, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) set up a dedicated website with information on COVID-19 phone scams. Other scammers will likely take their place.

The US Justice Department has shut down a number of bogus websites, many with terms like “coronavirus” or “covid19” in the domain name, or that promise vaccines and other aid, often purporting to represent government agencies or humanitarian organizations.

Be cautious when you browse for information about coronavirus. Developing and testing vaccines for viruses takes a long time. You will hear about them first from a legitimate source, such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the World Health Organization (WHO).

Attribution: AARP.org

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal services for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

May 6, 2020

PET ADOPTION SCAM

Courtesy Fraud.Org

There are heartwarming stories about how animals in community pet shelters have been adopted out during the pandemic.

Unfortunately, scammers are busy looking for clever ways to defraud would-be pet owners. One scam in particular — pet adoption scam — has seen a significant spike.

Here is why:

*Traditional pet adoption channels such as animal shelters, rescue organizations, and local breeders have been shut down due to the coronavirus, leading more consumers to look online for pets and stumble on to phony pet adoption websites.

*The pandemic is forcing would-be pet owners to remain isolated, so more people may be searching online for animal companions.

*Because of social isolation required by COVID-19, potential pet owners may be more willing to try and obtain a pet that they have not seen in person.

*Potential pet owners who are new to purchasing goods online may not be accustomed to spotting the warning signs of fake websites and may be more susceptible to these scams.

In a typical pet adoption scam, a scammer will create a fake website with a domain name related to a breed of dog or cat. It may be combined with words like “puppy” or “kitten.”. The websites may have photos of cute animals to entice visitors to reach out to the website owner (who is a criminal with no animals to offer).

Potential pet owners who respond to the ads will be instructed to pay fees before the animal can be shipped. Fictitious costs may include “shipping fees,” “inoculations,” “quarantine fees,” “insurance,” or even “COVID-safe shipping crates.”

To guard against these scams, here are suggested steps:

*Wait. Do not allow yourself to be rushed. Avoid shopping for a pet until after the COVID lockdowns have been lifted.

*Never pay any fee to obtain an animal that you have not seen with your own eyes (as opposed to via pictures or videos online).

*If anyone asks you to send money overseas, particularly to pet adoption scam hotspots such as Cameroon or India, it is a scam.

*Beware of “free” pet offers online. These are often simply ruses to get you to pay shipping or other fees for non-existent animals.

If you are planning to buy a specific breed of animal, make sure you are working with a reputable breeder or rescue organization. The American Kennel Club and the American Humane Society are good places to start when looking for reputable, ethical breeders and rescue groups.

If you have been on the receiving end of a pet adoption scam or any other coronavirus-related phone call, email, or text message that you think is a scam, Fraud Org wants to hear from you! File a complaint at http://www.Fraud.org.

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal services for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

May 2, 2020

BITCOIN BLACKMAIL SCAMS

Courtesy US Federal Trade Commission

Bitcoin blackmail scams have taken a big jump in the last few weeks. The scammer emails may say they hacked into your computer and recorded your visiting adult websites.

They threaten to distribute the video to your friends and family within hours, unless you pay into their Bitcoin account.  Stop. Don’t pay anything. Delete the message. It is a scam.

Based on the timing of this spike, you may get one of these messages because your email was exposed in a recent data breach. The scammers may say they have access to your computer or webcam, or they may have installed clever software to defeat you. That’s all just talk.

But they may really know one of your old – or recent – passwords. They may include it in the message as proof. When you see that, you know it’s time to update your password on that account, and consider updating other passwords, too.

If you, or someone you know, get a message like this, please report it to the FTC at http://www.FTC.gov/Complaint.

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal services for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

April 30, 2020

 

COSTCO CENSUS SCAMS

 

The coronavirus scammers are still at it! They have discovered more new ways of tricking people into either giving them money or letting them into their systems to wreak havoc.

 

Among the latest COVID-19 scams, they are exploiting uncertainties and confusion over the current US Census as a cover for their tricks.

 

Now the crooks are pretending to be Census workers, claiming they need personal information from victims as part of a coronavirus data gathering exercise. Emails posing as official inquiries from the US Census Bureau are using the same trick.

 

The Census does not involve questions about the disease. If you receive one, ignore it and politely dismiss whoever is at your front door asking the question.

 

You can also safely ignore any fake “COVID-19 stimulus package” message purporting to be from major retailer Costco. The scam will likely come in an email or text proclaiming “$110 Goodies from Costco.”

 

Costco isn’t offering any such deal. Period.

 

Recipients are then asked to click a link to complete a survey, which may then either download malware or steal confidential confirmation.

 

You can report any experience with scammers using this trick to the US Federal Trade Commission, www.ftc.gov

 

Attribution: scambusters.org

 

SCAMS BULETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal services for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

April 27, 2020

U.S. CITIZENS LIVING ABROAD SCAMS

Courtesy US Federal Trade Commission

Are you a United States citizen living abroad?
For millions of expatriates, help from home is on the way in the form of COVID-19 economic impact payments. Unfortunately, scammers also are on the way, and they are eager to pluck the payment from your pocket.

Depending on your income, U.S. expatriates can get up to $1,200 each, or up to $2,400 for couples, plus $500 for each qualifying child, just as you would if living stateside. And, most people do not need to do anything to get their payments.

The IRS will deposit your payment directly to your U.S. bank account (the IRS can’t direct deposit money to a foreign account), or mail your payment using information from your 2018 or 2019 tax return or from your Social Security retirement or other federal benefits program.

If you haven’t filed a federal tax return for 2018 or 2019 and don’t get any federal benefits, you may have to give the IRS sensitive information, including your Social Security number and bank account number (if you have one), to get your payment.

Scammers will take advantage of this to try to steal your money, your personal information, or both. So, to help avoid scammers, use only irs.gov/coronavirus and the tools there to submit sensitive information to the IRS. Use the IRS’s guide to figure out which IRS tool to use. And, visit the IRS’s Economic Impact Payment Center for answers to common questions. Consider talking with a tax professional if your tax filing situation is complex.

With economic impact money flowing in, and many people confused about the distribution process, this is a time to stay on high alert for scammers.

Here are some things that ONLY scammers will do:
*Call, email, or text you to ask for, or “verify,” your personal or financial information. The IRS will not contact you by phone, email, text, or social media about your payment.

*Ask you to pay a transfer or other fee to get your stimulus money. There are no fees.

*Send you a very real-looking check for more than you’re expecting, then tell you to deposit it, take your proper payment, and return the “overpayment” by sending cash, gift cards, or money transfers. A bank may be fooled and cash the check, but when it turns out to be fraudulent – which it will – you will owe the bank any money that you withdrew.

Learn more about avoiding economic impact payment scams at http://www.ftc.gov. And, if you spot a scam, please tell FTC about it at ftc.gov/complaint.
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SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provided free legal services for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

April 24, 2020

WORK AT HOME JOB SEEKERS SCAMS

Courtesy http://www.scambusters.org

Among the millions of people forced to stay home, hundreds of thousands who’ve lost their jobs or suffered a pay cut because of the Coronavirus lockdown are likely seeking work-at-home employment.

Even if things start resuming and reopening, many will never go back to their old jobs and are thinking about reframing their lives and careers by working from home longer term.

And since work-from-home schemes have always been a well-practiced con trick, the Covid outbreak is a golden opportunity for scammers. People desperate to find work, often facing financial difficulties, are highly vulnerable, and you can be sure the crooks will show no mercy.

While it may be true that more and more firms are looking to employ people as freelancers or independent contractors to work from home, their opportunities are easily outstripped by those from the con artists.

The most common red flag that signals a likely work-from-home scam is an offer of big money for what seems to be a relatively easy job or small amount of work. Often, fake job ads include phony testimonials from people claiming to be earning thousands of dollars every month.

Or they fail to mention that in order to jump on the bandwagon of whatever work they’re peddling, applicants have to pay for supplies, training, registration or any one of many other ruses to get their hands on your case.

Worse, some of the scams are actually fronts for criminal activities. These are the type of jobs in which the victim has to forward packages abroad or cash checks and wire the proceeds to an untraceable destination.

These forwarding or “mule” jobs are invariably the final stage in which other victims have been tricked earlier into paying money to scammers or have had their card details stolen and used to buy goods online. Although usually innocent victims, mules can find themselves on the wrong side of the law, potentially facing a jail sentence.

Pay a Fee

And then there’s the simplest of all work-from-home employment scams: people claiming they can find you work if you pay them a fee.

Getting caught out by one of these scams usually happens at the worst possible time — like after a Coronavirus job loss or furlough. It’s prompted the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to issue a renewed warning.

“Ads offer a variety of work-at-home jobs – internet businesses, shipping or mailing work, selling goods, and more,” says FTC attorney Lisa Weintraub Schifferle. “But many of these ‘jobs’ are scams, aimed at getting your money, and won’t deliver on the claims they make.”

Taking a cautious approach can help you avoid these tricksters. Here’s how.

• Don’t believe an easy or big money at-home job ad. It’s almost certainly a fake.
• Never pay upfront to anyone claiming they can find you a job. Reliable employment agencies earn their money from employers, not employees.
In particular, watch out for fake federal government jobs. Often these are posted by scammers posing as job finders; they label the work as “previously undisclosed” jobs — implying that they somehow have privileged access to this work, so they want payment for it. In reality, information on government jobs is free from usajobs.gov.
• Don’t pay in advance for supplies, equipment, training, medical/drug tests or anything else that’s supposedly a requirement before you can start work.
• Thoroughly research any individual or organization offering work to find out if they’re legit. What do others say about them? Do they have a verifiable business address?
Under its Business Opportunities Rule, the FTC requires work-from-home employers to give candidates a “disclosure” document with key pieces of information you can use to check them out.
• Beware of unsolicited contact from a potential employer. They may say they found your details on a jobs board. If you didn’t post them, you know it’s a scam. If you did post them, follow the step above.
• Don’t work for someone who offers you a job without apparently knowing anything about you and without them interviewing or checking you out.
Likewise, don’t be convinced by a phone or video interview that a potential employer is legit. You still must check up on them.
• Don’t provide information about yourself to someone you haven’t thoroughly checked out. For example, they may say they need your bank details so they can forward payment when they’re really identity thieves.
• Don’t accept a job offer that involves forwarding goods or money. You may get paid but that’s no good if you’re behind bars.

Finally, there are several sites that list legitimate work at home jobs, such as FlexJobs. Find others using an online search on a term such as “legitimate work at home companies.”

You can also learn more about the most common fake work-from-home jobs and how to spot them here: FTC Work-at-Home Businesses.

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who assists low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.
April 23, 2020.

CORONAVIRUS STIMULUS PAYMENT SCAMS  – What you need to know

(Courtesy US Federal Trade Commission)

There has been a flood of information and updates about the government’s economic impact payments, or so-called stimulus checks.

Scammers are using these stimulus payments to try to rip people off. They might try to get you to pay a fee to get your stimulus payment. Or they might try to convince you to give them your Social Security number, bank account, or government benefits debit card account number.

The more you know about the process, the less likely you are going to be tripped up by calls, text messages, or emails from scammers trying to steal your money or personal information.

Here’s what you need to know about the stimulus payments and how to avoid scams related to these payments.

Who will get money?

Adult U.S. residents that meet established income limits are eligible to receive money from the government. This includes:

Taxpayers – people who filed a federal tax return for 2018 or 2019.

Retirees – people who get Social Security, Railroad, or other retirement benefits.

Beneficiaries – people who get public benefits like SSDI, disability, or veterans’ benefits.

Non-filers – people who do not have to file a federal tax return, including people who made no income or made less than $12,200 (or $24,400 for married couples).

If you get Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits, have a qualifying child, and didn’t file a return in 2018 or 2019, you have to take action by noon ET on Wednesday, April 22 to add the $500 per eligible child to your payment. See details from the IRS.

What to do:

Most people don’t have to do anything to get their money because the IRS will use the same payment method – direct deposit, Direct Express debit card, or paper check – used to send you your tax refund, Social Security, retirement, or other government benefits money. If the IRS does not have your direct deposit information, you can go to the “Get My Payment” feature at irs.gov/coronavirus and let them know where to send your direct deposit.

If you don’t usually file a tax return, go to irs.gov/coronavirus to access the “Non-filer” portal and to figure out what, if anything, you have to do to claim your money.

To check on the status of your payment, you can now use the “Get My Payment” feature at irs.gov/coronavirus.

Tips for avoiding Coronavirus stimulus payment scams:

Only use irs.gov/coronavirus to submit information to the IRS – and never in response to a call, text, or email.

The IRS will not contact you by phone, email, text message, or social media with information about your stimulus payment, or to ask you for your Social Security number, bank account, or government benefits debit card account number. Anyone who does is a scammer phishing for your information.

You do not have to pay to get your stimulus money.

The IRS will not tell you to deposit your stimulus check then send them money back because they paid you more than they owed you. That’s a fake check scam.

Report scams to the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint.
To keep up with the latest scams, sign up for the FTC’s consumer alerts.
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SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal services for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

April 21, 2020

FINANCIAL IMPACT OF COVID-19

COVID-19 has thrown the economy into a tailspin. Many people have been laid off, furloughed, or are working fewer hours. As wages dry up, bills can pile up. Debt can be tricky – especially when you are short on money.

Here are some ideas from the US Federal Trade Commission about how you can manage your debts and start regaining your financial footing.

Gather your bills: Make a list of your monthly bills: rent/mortgage, car payment, utilities, student loans, medical bills, and anything else. Factor in how much you need for food, medicine, and other necessities.

Ask for help: Many companies have special programs to help. Contact the companies to whom you owe money. They might agree to a new payment plan with lower payments or delayed due dates. Make sure to get in writing any changes.

Find out if your state or local government offers programs that will allow you to hold off on paying some bills right now.

Trouble with your mortgage payment.  If you have a government-backed mortgage, you may be able to delay payment by contacting your servicer by calling the number on your statement.

Need additional help. The US Federal Trade Commission has advice on how to cope with debt in the short term, and how to get out of debt when you are able. WWW.FTC.gov/creditcounselor has tips on how to choose a counselor for guidance.

Prioritize if you need to: If you still can’t pay everything on time, look at what would happen if you couldn’t pay each bill and decide which to pay first. Would you lose your home? Would your car be repossessed? Would your debt go into collection and affect your credit report?

SCAMS

Watch out for scams: In stressful times, scammers are everywhere. Beware of anyone purporting to be a debt management entity that guarantees it will manage or pay your debts. Do not pay up front for that fake service

If you are aware of a debt relief scam, FTC wants to know. Let us know at ftc.gov/complaint.
Attb: FTC